Orlando Magic make a stand with win over Indiana Pacers

Magic begin second half with a determined win against Indy

The Orlando Magic looked determined to put everything behind them Wednesday night, from their nagging first-half slump to some critical reviews to the Vince Carter crisis (his shot still held hostage) to, finally, the Indiana Pacers.

Dwight Howard put Pacers center Roy Hibbert so far behind him that he'll need a telescope to see Superman.

Rankled that he surrendered a career 26-point game to Hibbert in their last outing, Howard took that personally and more, as did the rest of his teammates, in a dominating 109-98 victory against Indiana.

Howard scored a season-high 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Magic rediscovered some fire to begin the second half of the season.

Returning to Amway Arena from a 1-3 road trip, the Magic (27-15) had lost seven of their past nine games and the last three consecutively.

They stormed out to take a 40-20 halftime lead with passion and purpose, characteristics that are imprinted in forward Matt Barnes' being like his various tattoos.

Although new to the NBA Finalists, Barnes ripped into his new teammates after a lopsided loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, questioning the club's heart and sense of entitlement as only a lunch-bucket journeyman can do. The Magic played the Los Angeles Lakers tough, showing signs of a pulse that carried over to a Pacers rout.

Carter's offensive struggles continued as he scored just six points on 2-of-8 shooting in just 25 minutes. He was acquired to be the go-to guy and has shot 23 percent (17-of-75) his last eight games. "It'll happen," Carter said. "It'll come."

Never shy about any subject, coach Stan Van Gundy again tip-toed around a Carter question, huffing, "Look, it's just too much scrutiny on one guy. That's all we talk about every game. 'What do you think of Vince?'" he said, then adding, cryptically, "We played well."

The Magic built the lead on the backs of Howard, Barnes and Williams before letting up, forcing Van Gundy to re-insert his starters. The Pacers methodically cut a 29-point lead to eight in the last six minutes, but Howard and Barnes took care of the boards and scored enough to snuff the insurgence.

The next step for the Magic is to play a complete game or "sustain it for longer periods" said Van Gundy. Too many turnovers, too, 21 against the Pacers. But considering their recent struggles, it all sounds like nitpicking.

The Magic moved the ball, defended like they meant it. Chiefly, they also got the ball into Howard without the help of UPS, and he worked for it. He virtually erased Hibbert from the premises this time, holding him to no field goals and three points.

"I told guys before the game it wasn't going to be the same game and I meant it," Howard said. "If we don't play harder than the other team it doesn't matter who we're playing. We're going to lose if we play against a college team. If we don't come out with best effort, they're going to beat us."